Do you leave your car idle for days on end? Do you find that its tires have lost air after sitting for too long? If so, you might be wondering why this happens. It’s a good question, and here’s the answer:
When tires sit motionless for an extended amount of time, their temperature can fluctuate dramatically. This constant expansion and contraction causes rubber to weaken and degrade, resulting in weakness at the molecular level.
Nitrogen gas is also not ideal for use in inflating tires because it is not as soluble as air (the usual mixture of oxygen and nitrogen) when subjected to changes in pressure. When combined with changing temperatures and weak rubber, this means the tire will be more susceptible to punctures or leaks.
While most people don’t worry about their car sitting overnight without being used, leaving it idle for a week or two without checking the tires can lead to significant deflation!
It’s also possible that your tire was punctured by a nail or other foreign object while sitting stationary in one place. Another possibility may include leakage from loose valve caps or corroded valves which are known sources of gas loss over time when they’re left unchecked.
A final potential cause could be faulty manufacturing processes leading to defects within the tire itself—these types of issues may not show up until years later during normal use!
The rubber in the tire is exposed to oxygen in the air.
The reason tires lose air when they’re sitting is because the rubber in the tire is exposed to oxygen in the air. The oxygen that’s in the air reacts with polymers (the basic building block of rubber) and over time, this reaction can cause the polymers to break down and turn into other substances (kind of like how food goes bad). This process also weakens your tires, making them more prone to damage and less likely to withstand high temperatures.
So if you have a flat tire, it’s important that you replace it before driving anywhere else!
There are many different types of tires on cars today—some with thicker sidewalls than others—but all share similar properties when it comes to losing pressure.
As the chemical components of rubber combine with oxygen, a stinky gas called mercaptan is released.
What is mercaptan?
When the chemical components of rubber combine with oxygen, a stinky gas called mercaptan is released. Mercaptan usually occurs as a result of sulfur in the tire mix combining with the oxygen.
In vulcanized tires, the sulfur has been chemically combined into chains and rings through vulcanization, forming new molecules that can’t release their sulfur until they’re broken down by heat or age. When this happens, it releases some of that nasty-smelling stuff into your car’s interior.
Tyre pressure needs monitoring.
The best way to ensure proper tyre pressure is to check it regularly. The best time to do this is after the car has been sitting for several hours and the tyres are cold.
Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual, or the information placard typically found on the driver’s door jamb, for correct inflation pressures for your vehicle. Ideally, a tyre gauge should be used; however, many petrol stations have air pumps that have built-in gauges.
Do not forget about the spare tyre as it can lose air as well since it has no movement or rolling action of its own to help keep it inflated. If you drive on a worn spare tyre long enough, you will risk damaging your wheel rim as well. Any problems with your tyres should be addressed by a qualified mechanic.
Condensation occurs on the inside of your tyres.
Condensation inside your tyre is caused by a change in temperature. When the air temperature drops, pressure also drops and water vapor inside the tyre condenses into liquid. It collects on the inner walls of the tyre.
You’ll have to drive your car for a few miles for the heat generated by friction with the road to dry out your tyres. You might even see wet patches on the road as you drive.
Your valves aren’t permanently sealed.
If you’ve ever noticed that your tires seem to be a little less filled with air than you left them, don’t worry. This is totally normal and expected, especially if your car has been sitting for a while. It’s always important to check the air in your tires at least monthly and before long trips (it’s an easy way to help prevent a flat tire).
After months of sitting, these valves will start to leak a little bit of air. Although this can happen randomly throughout the year, it tends to happen more in the fall/winter when temperatures are colder. That’s why it’s often recommended that you check your tire pressure more often during this time of year – every two weeks or so is solid.
Your tyre temperature affects pressure levels.
This is because the temperature of your tyre affects the pressure levels. Cold air, for example, is denser than hot air. This means it occupies less space, so a tyre full of cold air will be firmer and more resistant to punctures. Conversely, when hot air expands inside tyres, the pressure increases causing them to expand and become more susceptible to leaks.
Whether you are driving or not, it’s always advisable to properly check your car tyre pressure once a month and before any long road trips.
There could be a nail in it.
You can cause a puncture in your bike tire by doing several different things, including:
- Riding over a nail sticking out of the ground
- Running into a curb the wrong way
- Riding over a rock or something else that scrapes your tire against the road surface
- Crashing into something such as another vehicle or pedestrian
Most causes of changing tyre pressures are completely natural and no cause for concern
You’re probably familiar with the dangers of driving without enough fuel in your car, whether you know it or not. After all, it’s hard to miss the flashing warning light on your dashboard that screams at you for help when you forget to fill up at the gas station! On the other hand, many people aren’t aware of how important tyre pressure is—how dangerous driving with either too little air or too much air in their tyres can be.
This is a problem because checking your tyre pressure is easy to do and doesn’t cost a cent. All you have to do is purchase a tire gauge (or use one provided by your local gas station) and use it regularly! Tyres are pressurized with air; this will be measured in PSI or BAR units.
For information on recommended pressures for your car, consult the owner’s manual or find them printed on a sticker typically located on the driver’s door sill, door frame, glove box door or fuel filler flap.
A properly fitted spare also has its correct inflation pressure listed thereon. It’s important that these numbers are checked regularly because overinflating tyres can lead to blowouts while underinflating them can lead to reduced performance and poor fuel economy.
